1

One World Trade Center

Image: David Vives

At a symbolic 1,776 feet, One World Trade Center proudly stands as America’s tallest building . Rising from the ashes of tragedy, this New York City landmark is a testament to resilience and unity.

Completed in 2014, it has been affectionately nicknamed the "Freedom Tower." Its sleek design features reflective glass that mirrors the sky, creating an ever-changing facade. The building houses offices, observation decks, and a museum dedicated to 9/11. Simply beautiful!

2

Central Park Tower

Image: Mason C

Central Park Tower, the world’s tallest residential building , reaches 1,550 feet into Manhattan’s skyline. Completed in 2020, it’s sometimes called the "Billionaires’ Row Tower" for its ultra-luxury apartments.

This architectural masterpiece offers jaw-dropping views of Central Park and beyond. It’s not just tall; it’s opulent, with a private club, pools, and even its own ballroom. If you’ve ever dreamed of living among the clouds, this is the place to do it (if you can afford it, of course).

3

Willis Tower

Image: Margo

Chicago’s Willis Tower, formerly known as the Sears Tower, was the world’s tallest building for 25 years (we did say there was some friendly competition going on!). Its 1,451-foot height dominates the skyline and has been a beacon of innovation since 1973.

The building’s unique design uses nine bundled tubes for extra stability against those famous Chicago winds. Visitors can step out onto The Ledge, a glass box extending from the 103rd floor, for a heart-pounding view. A true Midwestern marvel!

4

111 West 57th Street

Image: Parrish Freeman

Known as the "Steinway Tower," this ultra-skinny skyscraper is as much art as architecture. Rising 1,428 feet above Manhattan, it’s the thinnest skyscraper in the world and the fourth tallest in our country.

Its design nods to New York’s Jazz Age glamour, blending terracotta details with modern engineering. Completed in 2022, it houses luxury apartments that come with breathtaking views and equally jaw-dropping price tags.

5

One Vanderbilt

Image: Lukas Kyzur

Standing 1,401 feet tall, One Vanderbilt is a relatively new addition to New York City’s skyline. Completed in 2020, it’s located right next to Grand Central Terminal .

The building’s futuristic design is matched by its cutting-edge features, including Summit One Vanderbilt, an immersive observation experience. Its elevators take you to the top in a flash, and once you’re there, you’ll be treated to sweeping views of the city.

6

432 Park Avenue

Image: Miikka A.

At 1,396 feet, 432 Park Avenue is all about modern simplicity . Completed in 2015, it is one of the most recognizable buildings in the world.

ts grid-like windows give it a timeless look, but don’t be fooled—the apartments inside scream luxury. With amenities like private dining rooms and a spa, residents live the high life, pun intended! Love it or hate it, you can’t miss it.

7

Trump International Hotel and Tower

Image: Kenny Eliason

Chicago’s Trump Tower, standing 1,388 feet tall, is a gleaming addition to the city’s skyline . Completed in 2009, its reflective surface mirrors the surrounding beauty of the Chicago River.

This skyscraper combines luxury residences, a hotel, and fine dining. Its signature feature is the outdoor terrace, which offers stunning views of the Windy City.

8

30 Hudson Yards

Image: Frank Nürnberger

At 1,268 feet, 30 Hudson Yards is the centerpiece of New York’s futuristic Hudson Yards development.

Completed in 2019, it’s home to The Edge, the Western Hemisphere’s highest outdoor sky deck . The building boasts offices, dining, and even direct access to a luxury mall. Its sleek design symbolizes the city’s constant evolution. It has it all—just like the city itself!

9

Empire State Building

Image: Chris Barbalis

This may not be the tallest, but it certainly is one of the most iconic! The Empire State Building, at 1,250 feet, is a timeless symbol of New York City.

Completed in 1931 during the Great Depression , it was once the world’s tallest building. Its Art Deco design and iconic silhouette have graced countless movies and postcards. The city views it offers are simply unbeatable. No trip to New York is complete without a visit.

10

Bank of America Tower

Image: David Vives

Rising 1,200 feet in Midtown Manhattan, the Bank of America Tower is a green marvel. It was completed in 2010 and is one of the world’s most eco-friendly skyscrapers .

It uses innovative technology to reduce energy consumption and even collects rainwater. With its sharp, crystalline design, it looks as modern as its environmental features. This tower shows that sustainability and style can go hand in hand. Who knew going green could look so good?

11

St. Regis Chicago

Image: Andrew LaDeur

At 1,191 feet, the St. Regis Chicago adds a touch of elegance to the city’s skyline. Completed in 2020, its design is inspired by a flowing river , with undulating glass panels that shimmer in the sunlight. It’s a mix of hotel and residential spaces, with luxury oozing from every corner.

The building’s unique silhouette stands out in the architectural playground that is Chicago. If beauty were a competition, this skyscraper would be a top contender.

12

Aon Center

Image: Erol Ahmed

The Aon Center, at 1,136 feet, is a classic fixture in Chicago’s skyline. Built in 1973, it was originally clad in white marble, though granite replaced it later for durability. Its clean, rectangular design exudes timeless elegance.

Home to offices and observation areas , it’s a favorite among architecture lovers. You know how they are all about simplicity— the ultimate form of sophistication!

1

Too slow

Image: Milad Fakurian

If your computer suddenly starts running much slower than usual, this could be a virus infection giveaway, since viruses can cause a computer to perform significantly worse than usual by consuming a lot of resources .

2

Too hot

Image: Artur Solarz

If your computer's fan suddenly becomes unusually loud, this could be a virus warning. If this happens, the computer is being pushed to its limits by some software , possibly a virus, causing the CPU to heat up.

3

Increased random pop-ups

Image: KOBU Agency

Pop-ups are a common nuisance on the internet. However, if you notice a sudden increase in random pop-ups, it could indicate that your computer is infected with a virus. Some pop-up ads contain malware that, if clicked, can install itself on your computer and run without your knowledge. These pop-ups may appear as error messages, or even messages claiming your computer has a virus .

4

Repeated crashes and freezes

Image: Joshua Hoehne

A computer may crash or freeze when running a resource-intensive program or app. However, if it crashes or freezes frequently without any demanding programs running , it could be a sign of a virus infection .

5

Browser homepage changes

Image: Nathana Rebouças

A browser’s homepage should not change unless the user modifies it. At most, it may open a separate tab after an update, but it won’t alter the homepage. If your browser’s homepage unexpectedly switches to a different website , your computer may be infected with a virus .

6

Unknown programs

Image: KOBU Agency

An unknown program or app appearing on a computer could be an indicator of virus presence. A hidden virus may be launching programs that the user did not download .

7

Computer battery draining

Image: Roberto Sorin

As we’ve learned, viruses consume a lot of resources, and a computer’s battery is no exception . When a computer’s battery life quickly drops, this could mean a virus is running in the background and spreading to affect the system.

8

Missing files and corrupted data

Image: Markus Spiske

Missing or corrupted files can also indicate a virus infection on a computer. Heuristic viruses often target files, causing them to disappear or become unreadable . This not only disrupts the workflow but also poses a significant threat to personal and professional information, such as important documents, cherished photos, or critical work files.

9

Unfamiliar files and folders

Image: Cookie the Pom

Computer viruses not only make files disappear but also create files and folders to disguise their presence. Some viruses modify files on a computer by giving them almost identical names, allowing them to blend in with the rest of the documents.

10

Disabled security tools

Image: Ed Hardie

Antivirus programs and security tools are some of our best allies against computer viruses. That’s why, when a virus infects a computer, it often disables security features to make its job easier. Some viruses are specifically designed to disable security tools, giving them access to the computer’s data and private information. If an antivirus program has been disabled, it could be a sign that a virus has shut it down.

11

Unknown emails in the Sent folder

Image: Justin Morgan

Checking the Sent messages folder in one’s Inbox every once in a while is a smart thing to do. Some viruses gain access to a target’s contact list and send emails from their address , spreading malware to other recipients.

12

Unable to access the computer or accounts

Image: Simon Hattinga Verschure

A computer virus may completely block a genuine user’s access . If you realize that you can’t access your online accounts or your entire computer, this can be a sure sign that a virus is running on your computer.

1

Randall Park Mall, Ohio

Image: Carl Raw

Randall Park Mall opened in 1976 when huge retail complexes were designed to be at the heart of their communities. It was one of the largest indoor malls in the country, with more than 200 shops. However by 2009, following years of declining business and the more immediate impact of the Great Recession, Randall Park Mall closed its doors.

Encompassing nearly 2.2 million square feet of space and reportedly costing $175 million to build, Randall Park Mall was deemed such a colossal miscalculation that it closed after only 33 years in operation and was demolished before reaching forty years.

2

Circle Centre Mall, Indiana

Image: Michael Weidemann

Circle Centre opened to the public on September 8, 1995, incorporating existing downtown structures such as the former L. S. Ayres flagship store. Real efforts were made in its design to incorporate historic elements, such as the retention of the facades of buildings that had previously existed on the site.

Most malls rely on their department and anchor stores to survive, but, with the closure of Nordstrom in 2011 and of Carson's on April 29, 2018, the mall has been left without any department stores. In response to the changing retail conditions, the mall has explored non-traditional uses; for example, in 2014 The Indianapolis Star moved its offices into part of the space vacated by Nordstrom.

3

East Hills Shopping Center, Missouri

Image: Alexander Kovacs

East Hills Shopping Center is an enclosed shopping mall that opened in 1965, as one of the first malls in the Midwestern U.S. After enjoying several decades of success during the early days of malls, East Hills lost many tenants throughout the 1990s.

The COVID-19 pandemic brought many businesses to a close. On August 27, 2022, Dillard's permanently closed its doors followed by Party City in April 2023. The mall currently features JCPenney as its only anchor tenant.

4

Exton Square Mall, Pennsylvania

Image: mostafa meraji

The Exton Square Mall opened its doors in March 1973. Among its earlier memories, it holds the distinction of hosting the first Chick-fil-A restaurant on its premises.

In recent years, the mall has experienced an increase in vacancy rates, due to declining mall traffic and ongoing competition from the larger King of Prussia mall located 14 miles away. Many of the remaining stores are non-traditional tenants such as medical offices, a chess club, an art studio and gallery, and a chamber of commerce office.

5

Pittsburgh Mills Galleria, Pennsylvania

Image: Alexander Kovacs

Pittsburgh Mills Galleria is a dead mall that opened to much fanfare on July 14, 2005, but it never achieved the success its owners had hoped for. Only a year after opening, Lucky Strike Lanes closed and was eventually replaced with two restaurants and a banquet hall.

As of February 2023, there are only about 20 stores left, including 6 major chain stores. The food court, which once housed two full-service restaurants, a Starbucks, 10 counter restaurants, and several push-cart vendors, is now completely vacant.

6

Midway Mall, Ohio

Image: Pascal Bernardon

Midway Mall originally opened on September 22, 1966. Its anchor stores were Higbees, JCPenney, and Sears but over the years, brands changed and eventually left. As of 2023, with former anchor Dunham's Sports closing its branch there, it is considered a dead mall.

In 2023, the Lorain County Port Authority voted to buy and develop the mall site but, on May 1, 2024, the port authority sold the property to Industrial Commercial Properties, which intends to turn the mall into an industrial park.

7

Signal Hill Mall, North Carolina

Image: Ervan Sugiana

Signal Hill Mall was a regional enclosed shopping mall that opened in 1973 with more than 40 stores. The mall experienced a great deal of decline since the 2010s, losing most of its major stores throughout the decade and receiving significant media attention as an example of what is popularly known as a dead mall.

As of 2022, the mall has continued to decline, and despite discussions about the possibility of the mall being repurposed for non-retail use, nothing has been done. The mall is occasionally used as a space for community and recreational events by Statesville residents but that is all the activity on its premises.

8

Century III Mall, Pennsylvania

Image: Raymond Kotewicz

The eighth entry on this list hailing from Pennsylvania is an already abandoned mall. Century III Mall was built on a former slag dump and it operated from 1979 to 2019 - almost 40 years, which is not a bad number for a mall. It was the third-largest shopping mall in the world when it opened, but it has since been surpassed by much larger malls.

Following a similar route to the ones we have seen before, its occupancy rate fell from 40 percent in January 2016 to 10 percent by December 2017. Demolition of the mall began on March 26, 2024, starting with the attached external parking garage structure, but it will take a year until the entire structure is gone.

9

Gwinnett Place Mall, Georgia

Image: Casey Lovegrove

Stranger Things fans might recognize this building as the "Starcourt Mall" featured in the third season of the series. Once the leading mall in the region, Gwinnett Place Mall is now largely vacant.

It was challenged by the openings of the Mall of Georgia in 1999 and Sugarloaf Mills in 2001 and lost a large part of its customer base. It also failed to attract any new anchor stores for several years. In 2008, Gwinnett Technical College opened an International Education Center in the mall, where students take foreign language classes. Not much of a mall anymore.

10

Hawthorne Plaza Shopping Center, California

Image: David Valentine

Let us close the list with Hawthorne Plaza , an abandoned enclosed shopping mall with 134 stores that opened in February 1977. It included an indoor mall with three anchor stores and freestanding stores. Despite its initial popularity, the mall went into decline in the 1980s and 1990s.

The number of occupied stores declined from 130 in the late 1980s to around 70 in 1998. The mall's final anchor, JCPenney, closed in 1998 and the mall itself closed in 1999. The southern section of the mall across from the parking structure was demolished in 1998 and rebuilt as a strip mall. It currently includes a supermarket, a pharmacy, and some small restaurants.